I think I could read a whole novel of Vanessa puttering around her parents' place at Christmas time, just wandering the local woods and searching for evidence of the supernatural, armed with schnapps and gingerbread. It's very unlike it in everything else, but it has that Christmassy effect that I always get from Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising which, since it is nearly that time of year again, I shall soon be pulling out for my annual read.

Also, the neighbours are holding a Christmas party in a few weeks, and I promised to bring gingerbread. I do like gingerbread.